Walloped at Wentworth - but It's All in a Good Cause; Bunkers Galore: Course Redesigner Els

Walloped at Wentworth - but It's All in a Good Cause; Bunkers Galore: Course Redesigner Els

Article excerpt

IN the locker room at Wentworth last Thursday, one man turned toanother. "Not working today?" The other replied: "No, it's so quiet I thoughtI'd come and play some golf." Judging by the crowd at the famous Surrey club,plenty of others were doing the same. It was teeming. When I arrived, the carpark was packed, and the practicerange bays were full. Every teetime was taken.Afterwards, there was not a spare table to be had on the terrace.

It was a glorious day. I was playing with our own Mickey Clark against DavidKershaw, chief executive of M& C Saatchi, and Neil Lindsay, a major supplier toNext. Kershaw had very generously bought the round and lunch in the EveningStandard's Christmas charity auction.

On my way to the tee, I bumped into Eric Nicoli, a Wentworth resident andregular at the club.

Until recently, he was running EMI, trying to cajole another album from thelikes of Robbie Williams. Then Guy Hands bought the company, and Nicoli wasoff. …